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Legislative bills

Bipartisan Bills Pass House to Support Women Veterans

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed two bipartisan bills introduced by Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) to assist women veterans. The bills aim to address survivors of military sexual assault and harassment, as well as provide lactation spaces for mothers in medical facilities managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Key Takeaways:

  • The MST Claims Coordination Act will improve communication and coordination between the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to streamline the process of submitting basic information.
  • The bill requires the provision of additional resources specifically for survivors, including information on the Veterans Crisis Line, counseling, and care.
  • The act passed with a unanimous vote of 417 to 0.
  • As of now, 90 VA facilities have designated nursing rooms, but Rep. Luria's legislation will require these spaces to be available for use by female veterans, employees, and the public.
  • Lactation spaces must meet specific requirements, including being shielded from view, accessible to disabled individuals, easy to locate, and clearly identified with signage.
  • Rep. Luria's previous bill, the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act, was signed into law in 2019, allowing for a hygienic space to express milk in public buildings, not only for employees but also for members of the public.
  • The Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act passed the House with a unanimous vote of 420 to 0.
  • Rep. Luria has led legislative and oversight hearings to ensure access to disability benefits for survivors of military sexual trauma and has called for policy changes to support MST survivors.

Statistics:

  • 417 to 0: The vote in favor of the MST Claims Coordination Act.
  • 420 to 0: The vote in favor of the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act.
  • 90 VA facilities: The number of facilities currently with designated nursing rooms.
  • Unknown: The number of women veterans who will benefit from the passage of these two bills.

Sources:

  • [1] Office of Virginia Rep. Elaine Luria, [no date]
  • Video of Rep. Luria's floor remarks in support of the MST Claims Act
  • Video of Rep. Luria's floor remarks in support of the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act

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